God is in the shadows...

Yesterday at Precept, we learn about God in the book of Esther. God was never mentioned in this book. But God was very much present in the lives of the people. He chose an appropriate time to reveal Himself even though there was no mention of His name. God was revealed through the lives of those who believe Him and all that He promises. 

Esther's race was to be destroyed, annihilated by a wicked man of the King's right hand Haman. She was afraid at first to go before the king because she would be killed if she was not summoned. However she fasted. 

A transformation occurred after her three days fast. She radiated not just her beauty but the courage to come before a king who could reject her. She went with faith only after she was reminded of God's power and she believed that the destiny of her people was in her hands. Armed with prayers of her people, she went to the king. The king received her and gave her a sceptre to allow her into his court. All she wanted was to invite Haman and the king to a banquet for the enemy (Haman).

In the story, Haman was so delighted and he was so full of himself that his pride later back fired. You go find out what happened. He actually built a 7 storey high gallows for himself without knowing that would be his end. 

Where was God? How often times when we are in the deepest forest or the lowest valley, we think God cannot be in there with us. But He is. He is working. He softens the grounds we are treading on. All we have to do is to trust. 

What tomorrow holds...

Dear God

Thank you for the blessings of each new day. Thank you for the peace and the quiet assurance that You are in control. There are many things that rock my world and each time when the tremor shakes the very ground I stand, I am so thankful you held on to my hand. Thank you for the word and all the promises written within so that I can claim them one by one. 

Father grant me faith, a hope for things not seen. Grant me strength to carry on as I labour in wherever you sent me. Thank you for the protection and the wisdom in the places you sent me to. Bless the people I work with in small ways and in big ways. Bless them with the gift of salvation and that through my interaction with them, they may know you as their God and their Saviour.

My favourite hymn of all time!

Jesus loves me this I know. For the bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He will stay close beside me all the way!

A meeting with Hannah Chua

Remember my friend who always has to win? Yes, always. If you are happy, she is happier than you. If your life is a sad one, hers is always worse than you. So you can never win with this person. 

For more than a year, I disappeared from her sight. I never return her calls because why would I want to be a person who must win. I do purposely tell her I had a terrible day and I will get to listen her most terrible day. Although I chuckled inside me, I never really enjoyed her company.

On sunday, before church started, my friend Annie sent me a message about how Hannah complained about her own weight. Annie was annoyed that she could go on and on and so Annie messaged me to tell me that "MY" friend was a bother. I was rather annoyed that anyone bad is my friend and anyone good is her friend. So I told her off. And I reminded Annie that Hannah is also a sister in Christ. So I suggested that if Annie could not stand Hannah, they both should sit down and talk since they are both from the same church. But Annie refused. I told Annie since she doesn't want to be a solution then she should not bother me with Hannah anymore. 

But tonight, I went and met Hannah. It was time to tell Hannah to stop being such a bother. Yes, I went and told her to stop nagging. Of course I did talk about something else first. Our conversation started about how bad Alison is doing in Australia. I didn't respond. Then she started to report about other matters in her church. And it came to one point when I had to tell her she has to stop meddling with people and offering advice that may not be good. Then I told her about Annie. 

According to Hannah, she only nagged once. But still it is nagging.

Hannah is much better than a year ago. At least she is not trying to win so much. She did try to make herself more important on one or two instances tonight. I let her. Because I think I am one of the rear ones who is hearing. I am not listening to her. Because what she said may not be true. 

My last advice to her tonight was that both of us are getting old. We should perhaps listen to see if we are repetitive. I told her that a year ago, she repeated some episodes to me many times. She asked me what they were. I forgot. I don't want to remember. Whatever for! Hahaha.


I know I have touched a raw nerve. I rather tell her then to let her continue on and be hated by her church. I don't go to her church but the friends in that church cannot be bothered with her. I wonder why she stays.

She told me because if she leaves, then there is no one left in the church.

We think we can save the church. But God is the one who can save. You know there is a lady in the church who brought up her children by telling them that when they sin, they will go to hell. In the end one of her sons left the church and now refused to believe in heaven or hell or Jesus. And this mother wants the church to pray that her son to return to God's love. I doubt he will. Because he never saw the love of God demonstrated in his family. 

These are the people who have only a form of godliness and depriving the power of God in their lives. We think we are saved. We think this is God's purpose for us. Is God in it?

I believe this...A relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will change anyone forever. But it will mean a life of total surrender, it is a life about God's will and a life where we take up the cross of Jesus everyday. It is a life of a sinner fully surrendered to God. 

We cannot stop someone from sinning. It is human to sin. But it is so God to love and to come and offer salvation to stop us from eternal condemnation. 

I cannot explain why good godly people are so extreme. They really, really love God. I have met these ones. But they are also so terribly wrong. Sigh!

May God come soon.

Training teachers from Pakistan

I trained some teachers from Pakistan the past three days and I learned alot about Pakistan and about education in Pakistan. It has been really fun. In the process I also know more about myself.

I was informed they had so little training so I had to incorporate a lot of pedagogical skills. On the day of training, I found out they are actually HEAD trainers of the branch of schools in Pakistan. 4 teachers came from Beacon House and 2 (one a principal) came from Lahore. I had to switch gear and quickly think on the spot what to teach and how to use what I have.

Thank God I was able to salvage what I had to do the last minute and I managed to show them something interesting everyday. Be it the cooperative learning strategies or the use of questions. I got them to reflect on the lessons everyday and so they were tired. So was I.


I made 6 friends. At least one will bug me for a long time because she is the only geographer in the group. She is a master teacher in geography and we are going to stay in touch to make geography more exciting.


They told me a lot about what Pakistan is and I found that Pakistan is a lovely country. They gave me impressions that it is a safe place and that even though Osama Bin Laden lived there but still Pakistan is safe. The women I met are of a freer spirit. They don't wear the veil and they can eat anything that is halal. To them the utensils are not important. The way the animal is slaughtered is. They don't eat pork of course. 


What they saw of Singapore was that it was an extremely clean city. They didn't see a fly or any insect. I burst out laughing and told them that they were in the city centre where most people work and where we are living is a different story. They were shocked there were no dogs or cats around the area they stayed. I told them that we do raise pets. 


They were amazed at the efficiency of our Train system and how everything was just in the right order, at the right time and in the right places. That is the trouble with our country. We are always so right and precise.

I once asked a friend why we must always be so efficient? Why can't we be wrong for a while. Must everything be right and happen just the way we want it.

Having been out of job for almost a year has taught me that what was always proper and the right path to take may not be at all right. I was so sure that this was what I wanted to do but God showed me and led me otherwise.

How can we make the right choices in our lives? This is the book I am working on with a friend. We come to realize that although we have a will, we need to exercise it carefully and bringing it before God. Man can propose but it is ultimately God who will dispose of the will.

I learn to live from day to day relying on God. Easier said then done. There are many, many days when I want it my way. I refused to rest in God's hand but God is gentle enough to bring me back. I always see myself going back to God at the table of reason and to negotiate. I don't win all the time. But I do win sometimes. Those were the times when God saw the change of heart and repentance.


I am at peace these days. Enjoying the free time I have to run around and do errands. Visiting with people I care about and taking the time to plan each week ahead.